New school funding plan could mean $107M increase for some schools, group says

Top lawmakers could move to rewrite Mississippi's school funding formula in 2018.
Wochit

Fifth-grade students raise there hands to answer a question Wednesday at Davis Magnet Elementary School in Jackson. Davis is the top-ranked elementary school in Mississippi, even amidst Jackson Public School's recent struggles.(Photo: Justin Sellers/The Clarion-Ledger)

Top lawmakers pursuing a rewrite of Mississippi’s school funding formula could bring forward a proposal to send an additional $107 million to the state’s public schools within the next five to seven years, according to figures presented by an educational consulting group Wednesday.

There’s a question, however, of whether proponents of the state’s current funding formula will approve the new measure — which still falls more than $100 million short of what the current formula calls for.

EdBuild is a New Jersey-based nonprofit that was hired by the Legislature last year to make recommendations to the state’s current school budget formula, called the Mississippi Adequate Education Program.

The group favors setting a base cost for each student and then allocating additional dollars to students who need special services, such as those from low-income households and those who are learning to speak English.

EdBuild’s contract with the Legislature ended in June, but representatives have been present in the Capitol this week as House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, pursues a MAEP rewrite.

Rebecca Sibilia, CEO of EdBuild, told the House Democratic Caucus that she ran numbers for Gunn setting the base student cost at $4,800. That’s lower than the nearly $5,500 that the state’s Department of Education is estimating the base student cost should be under MAEP for next year. But under the proposed new formula, additional weights provided for special populations of students mean the state would spend more than it does now.

The Clarion Ledger is still reviewing numbers, but there are losers. EdBuild’s recommendations are aligned to student enrollment, which means districts are likely to lose funds as enrollment drops.

Sibilia said a new formula would likely be phased-in like its predecessor. Even then, she said, lawmakers would still have to be careful with their timeline, as a sudden drop in funds in the year of full implementation could be detrimental.

"We do still have to think about kids," Sibilia said.

The numbers EdBuild presented would not touch what’s known as the 27 percent rule. Currently, the state determines the amount of money school districts need to meet mid-level standards and subtracts the required local contribution. Under the 27 percent rule, districts are required to pay no more than 27 percent of the total cost.

EdBuild argues that has the effect of subsidizing property-wealthy districts and ties up $120 million in funding that could go to more economically depressed areas.

“It is inequitable. It is illogical and it is not good for kids,” Sibilia said.

A few lawmakers showed an appetite for seeing what the numbers would look like with the cap lifted.

Even with the potential boost, there’s skepticism.

No bill has dropped yet for a new funding formula. Lawmakers have until Monday to file general and constitutional bills. Legislation dealing with appropriations, however, can be introduced after that deadline.